Broadcasting pioneer, Jean Caine, dies at age 90

Broadcasting pioneer dies at age 90

Her tireless determination would change the airwaves above Oakville, but it never stopped her from asking an employee how they were doing.

Friends and family are mourning the loss of Oakville resident and Canadian broadcasting pioneer Jean Elizabeth Caine who died Wednesday, Jan. 8 at her home .

She was 90 years old.

Caine, who cofounded the Oakville radio stations JOY 1250 and CJMR 1320, is described by her grandson Matt as someone who remained active and interested in the day-to-day operations of the broadcasting business until her final days — despite being semi-retired.

“She was still chair of the board and very involved with the business,” he said.

“She was the best. She was the true leader of our family.”

According to the Canadian Communications Foundation Caine’s experience with radio dates back to when she was just nine years old and read The Lord’s Prayer on Hamilton’s CHML.

Matt said she also acted and appeared in commercials in the Toronto-Hamilton area.

Caine eventually landed a job as a writer and women’s editor at the Hamilton radio station CKOC, where she met her husband, Howard, who was working as a newscaster.

The two married and soon shared a dream of owning a radio station — a dream realized in 1956 when they founded CHWO 1250.

When Howard died in 1967, Caine became president and manager of CHWO. She began grooming her son, Michael — who had been “raised ’ on radio — to take over.

In 1974, the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) granted the Caines a radio licence for CJMR 1320 to serve nearby Mississauga. Caine’s two radio stations CHWO and CJMR were identified as ‘The Golden Horseshoe Radio Network.’

In 2000, Caine was granted the AM740 frequency by the CRTC. The station became AM740 Prime Time Radio with music, personalities and features aimed at older listeners. In 2008, AM740 was sold to Moses Znaimer who re-branded it as Zoomer Radio, with a focus on the 45-plus audience.

The CHWO 1250 station is now JOY 1250 (CJYE) airing Christian-based programming, while CJMR 1320 is a multi-language station serving the GTA.

Matt said throughout it all, his grandmother thought of those who worked at her radio stations as family and noted it was common for her to begin a meeting or conversation by asking about an employee’s family or life away from work.

Matt, who is now vice president and general manager of Whiteoaks Communications Group, which runs the pair of stations, said Caine’s work inspired multiple generations of her family to follow in her footsteps.

“This is a legacy that has been created not only by her and her late husband Howard, but by my father, Michael,” he said.

“Broadcasting is in the family that way. I could always talk to her about anything to do with the business to get advice. Between her and my dad, there is a great legacy behind me and a strong foundation to build on.”

Matt said Caine counted on him to explain new technology to her as broadcasting evolved over time. He said she was amazed when he was able to put the radio station’s app on her iPad.

“She was very caring and loving to her family and her grandkids,” said Matt. “She never gave up on anybody.”

Caine had no shortage of achievements. She was named Oakville’s Business Person of the Year in 1987 and was inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame in 1995.

She was also the first recipient of the Ability Fund Award from the Rehabilitation Council for the Disabled and in 1978 was presented with the Central Canada Broadcasters Association Howard Caine Memorial Award.

Her name and that of her husband is on the Jean and Howard Caine Apartments at 259 Robinson St. The 59-unit complex houses more than 40 people with physical challenges. It was the first building opened by March of Dimes’ Non-Profit Housing Corporation, established in 1992 to develop and promote affordable supportive housing for people with physical disabilities.

A memorial will be held to celebrate Caine’s life on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. at St. Jude’s Anglican Church, 160 William St.